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Encouraging Words Blog

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) NIV

I am often “fuddled” (to use one of my mom’s favorite words) when I try to understand the way the Lord works in my life. I do believe that every prayer we send up is answered. I’ve found though, that the answers are most often not what I expect or foresee or sometimes even really want, if I am honest about it.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16) NIV.

Lord, I’m tired. It’s one of those days. From the moment I wake, my focus seems to be on my body. I wake with my heart pounding – feeling out of breath before I’ve done a thing. Getting out of bed feels like such an effort – yet there are children to care for, appointments to keep, things I need to do. …

But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. "My head! My head!" he said to his father. His father told a servant, "Carry him to his mother." After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. …

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philppians 4:5-7

What promises God gives to us! The very peace of God, which we cannot understand is promised to His children. …

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

I try to focus on my illnesses as teachers. They have uncovered many a thing in me that probably would have remained hidden. I have to admit, that the uncovering sometimes hurts more than the illnesses.

I am finding my biggest battle is currently with my own tongue. The Lord has shown me how critical a spirit I can have and how negative I have become.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

I startle as I feel my heart pound. It skips a beat, then beats wildly against my chest wall. I can feel the arrhythmia as it starts up. An icy fear clutches my heart as well. No. I don’t want this again. No … please … no. But the erratic beating continues. …

How easy it is for me to look at the continuing storms in my life, my illnesses, my husband’s cancer, my dad’s death, dealing with an old house that now thinks broken water pipes are a nice habit to form, and sit and feel sorry for myself. I believe in Christ as my Savior. So shouldn’t this all stop now? Am I doing something wrong? Is it me?. Jesus quiets the storms, doesn’t He? Why do the storms seem to never cease?

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" (John 6:68 NIV)

Where DO you go when life falls apart? I read a lot of different devotionals that are emailed to me. One particular devotional had the above verse as a reference. This has always been one of my favorite verses; probably from the time I was going through a pretty ugly and unexpected divorce and being left to raise four children on my own.